Tweets,

Today 13 of us walked Nisqually in cool. misty conditions. The sun didn't
show until we were almost finished the walk.

Highlights included an adult GREAT HORNED OWL with 2 young at the new nest
tree near where the boardwalk from the twin barns joins the boardwalk on the
Nisqually River side of the refuge. Other highlights included a PEREGRINE
FALCON and a NORTHER SHRIKE.

The PEREGRINE flew across the field behind the twin barns and chased off a
NORTHERN HARRIER and the SHRIKE was on the left as we approached McAllister
Creek. On McAllister creek we saw BUFFLEHEAD, female COMMON GOLDENEYE, and a
female GREATER SCAUP. There also was a BELTED KINGFISHER in that area.

We were surprised by the number of YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS we saw. Many of
them were hawking insects ala flycatchers. We also had a couple of flocks of
BUSHTITS and lots of BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES and both KINGLETS.

Waterfowl are getting scarce and pairing up. It was interesting to see
COMMON GOLDENEYE and BUFFLEHEAD in mating rituals.

All told we saw 53 species today with GREATER SCAUP being new for the year.

Mammals seen included HARBOR SEAL, EASTERN GRAY SQUIRRREL, and a MUSKRAT
near the ring dike.

Until next week when we walk the outer dike....

Phil Kelley
Lacey, WA
scrubjay323 at aol.com
360-459-1499

" We were few and they were many. Now we are many and they are few"
Confucius




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